Stevie Ray Vaughan

Best Guitar Pedals for Playing the Blues

Blues style music is one of the most popular forms of music today. It has the ability to make you feel better about your current life situation while at the same time leaving you feeling like your soul has been ripped in two.

Either way, playing the blues on your guitar is super fun – even if you’re only able to play the basic 12 bar blues scale. But it’s even more satisfying to play the blues if you have the right pedal for the type of bluesy sound you want to create. 

Do you want to sound like Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Jimi Hendrix or other blues greats? Having the best equipment will get you that much closer to sounding just like your favorite blues artist. 

We have picked out the very best blues guitar pedals that money can buy, and you don’t even have to break the bank to sound like a true blues guitar player. Check them out!

Image
Ibanez TS808 Original Tube Screamer Overdrive Pedal
Boss BD-2 Blues Driver Guitar Effects Pedal
JIM DUNLOP Cry Baby Standard Wah (GCB95)
Donner Overdrive Guitar Pedal, Blues Drive Vintage Overdrive Effect Warm/Hot Modes for Pedal Boards Electric Guitar, True Bypass
Name
Ibanez TS808 Original Tube Screamer Overdrive Pedal
Boss BD-2 Blues Driver
Dunlop Cry Baby Wah Pedal
Donner Blues Drive
Model
TS-808
BD-2
GCB95
612306258629
Battery
1 9V Battery
1 Lithium Ion
9 Volt
None (9V DC)
Weight
1 pound
10.6 ounces
3.7 pounds
8.8 ounces
Delivery
Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime
Image
Ibanez TS808 Original Tube Screamer Overdrive Pedal
Name
Ibanez TS808 Original Tube Screamer Overdrive Pedal
Model
TS-808
Battery
1 9V Battery
Weight
1 pound
Delivery
Amazon Prime
Image
Boss BD-2 Blues Driver Guitar Effects Pedal
Name
Boss BD-2 Blues Driver
Model
BD-2
Battery
1 Lithium Ion
Weight
10.6 ounces
Delivery
Amazon Prime
Image
JIM DUNLOP Cry Baby Standard Wah (GCB95)
Name
Dunlop Cry Baby Wah Pedal
Model
GCB95
Battery
9 Volt
Weight
3.7 pounds
Delivery
Amazon Prime
Image
Donner Overdrive Guitar Pedal, Blues Drive Vintage Overdrive Effect Warm/Hot Modes for Pedal Boards Electric Guitar, True Bypass
Name
Donner Blues Drive
Model
612306258629
Battery
None (9V DC)
Weight
8.8 ounces
Delivery
Amazon Prime

Last update on 2025-02-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Ibanez TS808 Overdrive Pedal

This pedal is by far my favorite blues pedal on this list. It is a true classic and considered the “daddy” of blues guitar overdrive pedals. In fact, Stevie Ray Vaughan used the original version of this pedal back in the day before the music world lost him.

Ibanez TS808 Original Tube Screamer Overdrive Pedal
  • Overdrive, Tone and Level controls
  • Delivers that warm, natural tube overdrive sound previously unattainable by conventional units.
  • Zine die cast construction and rugged rubber stopper assures durability.
  • LED indicator shows status of effect and battery condition.

Last update on 2025-02-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Boss BD-2 Blues Driver

This pedal is perfect for those without a tube amp, because it will definitely re-create that tube amp sound if that’s what you’re looking for. This pedal also has a little bit more distortion than most blues focused pedals. So if you’re looking for more distortion, then this is your pedal.

Boss BD-2 Blues Driver Guitar Effects Pedal
  • Disttion Overdrive Effects Guitar Pedal with Tube Amplifier Simulation Blues Guitar Tone with Level
  • Gain Controls
  • Classic "blues" guitar tones with tube amp simulation
  • Responds to nuance and volume changes

Last update on 2025-02-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah Pedal

The Dunlop Cry Baby is very similiar to the type of Wah pedal that Jimi Hendrix used, except that this is the much more affordable option when choosing a Wah pedal. 

If you dig the sound of Hendrix, Cream, or Eric Clapton, then this pedal is your best option. In fact, this is the Original Wah Pedal. The versatility of the Wah sound all started with this brand of Wah style pedal.

JIM DUNLOP Cry Baby Standard Wah (GCB95)
  • Heavy Die Cast Construction
  • Powered by the Dunlop ECB-03 AC Adapter (not included) and/or 9 volt battery
  • Dimensions: 10" x 4" x 2-1/2"
  • Weight: 3.7 lbs.
  • Color: Black

Last update on 2025-02-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Donner Blues Drive

This blues pedal is the most affordable option on this list. But don’t let the price of this one fool you. The Donner blues drive still packs a punch, and will give you that great vintage bluesy sound. 

So if you consider yourself a “starving artist”, but are still looking for a great blues guitar pedal that won’t break the bank, then this pedal right here is calling your name!

Donner Overdrive Guitar Pedal, Blues Drive Vintage Overdrive Effect Warm/Hot Modes for Pedal Boards Electric Guitar, True Bypass
  • [2 overdrive modes]: Warm: The classic TS overdrive sound replica; Hot: More powerful, a louder, tightened sound
  • [Style-type]: Combining iconic vintage tube overdrive sound with wide dynamic range, Donner overdrive pedal gives you a wide tonal range from smooth whispers to searing leads
  • [Easy to use]: Flexible knobs for tone control: LEVEL (output volume), TONE (brightness) and GAIN (overdrive amount)
  • [True bypass guitar pedal]: True bypass provides transparent tone; Enduring aluminum alloy chassis
  • [Power supply]: DC 9V Adapter power supply (NOT INCLUDED)

Last update on 2025-02-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, now you have a much clearer idea on which blues guitar pedal suits you the best. My personal favorite is the Ibanez Tube Screamer Overdrive pedal because that’s the type of pedal my favorite blues musician used. (Stevie Ray Vaughan)

You should know, however, that any of the above blues guitar pedal options would be a great addition to any guitar player’s toy box.

About Me

I love playing around with various types of guitar gear so I started this website to share my guitar gear knowledge with the world. Enjoy!

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